Randy Garcia is promoted to President of Pepin Distributing Company

TAMPA — Looking back 37 years, when he first broke into the beverage industry as a regional manager, Randy Garcia says he never could have imagined the amazing journey that would culminate with him being crowned president of one of the most respected and longstanding companies in Tampa Bay, Pepin Distributing Company.

Garcia, 59, the company’s vice president the past decade, was surprised when Pepin Distributing CEO Tom Pepin announced his promotion at the company’s annual Awards Banquet, held January 18 at TPepin’s Hospitality Centre.

“I didn’t know it was coming,” Garcia chuckled as he recounted the moment Mr. Pepin crowned him president before hundreds of cheering employees, capping a 26-year rise with the iconic company and becoming just the second president in Pepin Distributing’s 50-year history in Tampa.

“I am humbled and truly honored by my recent promotion,” says Garcia. “It comes with an enormous amount of responsibility, and I do not take the expectations lightly as we continue to build a corporate culture that is second to none in the beverage industry.”

Garcia started at Pepin Distributing in 1988 as a chain account manager. Over the years he was promoted to sales manager and then vice president, always learning new aspects of the growing beer business from the longtime employees who came before him, in addition to Mr. Pepin who previously held the title of president for 30 years.

“Randy Garcia is the definition of achievement and he stands for everything that is right with our company,” says Mr. Pepin. “I am so fortunate to have a best friend that I can trust the reigns of our family business. I felt this was the right time to turn the presidency over to Randy and I know he’ll continue to lead our team and keep expanding our business by building beverage brands for many years to come.”

Mr. Pepin will remain chief executive officer of Pepin Distributing Company.

Garcia says maintaining “Team Pepin” pride and dedication to service that exceeds customer expectations are top goals as he settles into his new role.

“Tom Pepin has given us the tools and resources to compete and succeed in this marketplace,” he says. “We have the most talented and dedicated team of employees and my job is to keep our focus on developing those incredible people, our training, portfolio management, brand marketing, merchandising and social connectivity with our community.”

Spend just a few minutes with the new president and you’ll be inspired by his passion for the beer industry and the Pepin Distributing partners who add to the company’s success.

“There has never been a more exciting time in the history of this great industry,” Garcia says. “We are very fortunate to have strong partnership with ABI and Crown Imports, and we’ve complemented our portfolio nicely with our Craft Beer partners.”

Randy Garcia was named president of Pepin Distributing Company on January 18, 2014
Randy Garcia was named president of Pepin Distributing Company on January 18, 2014.